Football
New Durham AFC ……………3
Barnard Castle FC ……………3
Barnard Castle left Durham with only a draw last Saturday after the home side stole a late equaliser. It means that Barney’s push for promotion will be an uphill task.
Harrison Saunders shone for the visitors with a brace of goals but it wasn’t enough to secure the three points.
Tommy Lowther’s side worked very hard to regain the lead after trailing 2-1 but they were unable to hold on for the win.
Saunders’ brother plays up front for league two Tranmere Rovers, and although this may have been in the Wearside League, Harrison followed in his brother’s scoring prowess.
He notched the first goal from 30 yards out, and then scored Barney’s third, halfway through the second half.
Barney failed to hold on though, with New Durham slotting the ball into the bottom corner and goalkeeper Joe Ramage unable to palm it wide.
Undoubtedly, the result felt like a defeat and was a real dent to the side’s aspirations.
New Durham are below them in the league, and these are the fixtures where they have to be securing three points if promotion hopes are going to become a genuine prospect. With only the league to focus on, Barney now look to this week’s fixture away to Coxhoe Athletic.
Sam Alexander
Ebac Northern League
WEST Auckland Town remain third in the Northern League after a convincing 3-1 win over Northallerton Town.
West were quickly into the action and, in the tenth minute, had their first attempt at goal but Adam Cock’s volley was tipped over by the keeper.
Northallerton were quick to respond and found the West net five minutes later from a set piece, however it was ruled offside.
They took the lead in the 24th minute with a penalty. West were quick to respond with a goal of their own by Oscar Fletcher, taking the score to 1-1 at half-time.
Fletcher had two more goal attempts go wide, before achieving his second after a one-on-one with the keeper.
Corey Nicholson sealed the win with a long kick into the top corner from more than 30 yards out, in the 75th minute.
Fletcher was awarded man-of-the-match.
West will next be in action away to Heaton Stannington on Saturday.
Darlington Invitation League
After a slow start to the season, Staindrop Wheatsheaf’s form continues to improve with a 2-1 win over Darlington Skerne Park on Sunday. Both of Staindrop’s goals were scored by Dan Hull.
Middleton Wanderers are also enjoying a turn of form. Following on from their 6-2 victory over Skerne Park a week earlier, the team enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win over Crook Town Rangers.
Crook and District League
Evenwood find themselves in the final of the Norman Wright Memorial Cup after knocking out Willington WMC. Gareth McMahon scored a brace while Callum Crook and Rob Worthy shared a goal each.
Evenwood face Stanhope SSC in the final. They face the same rivals in the semi-final of the Weardale Charity Cup on a date yet to be decided.
Martin Paul
